Question

Which of the carbon atoms present in the molecule given below are asymmetric?

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\phantom{}\ce{HO}\phantom{.....}\ce{OH}\phantom{..}\ce{H}\phantom{.....}\ce{O}\phantom{..}\\
\phantom{..}\backslash\phantom{.....}|\phantom{....}|\phantom{.....}//\phantom{.}\\
\ce{\overset{a}{C} - \overset{b}{C} - \overset{c}{C} - \overset{d}{C}}\\
\phantom{..}//\phantom{.....}|\phantom{....}|\phantom{....}\phantom{.}\backslash\phantom{...}\\
\phantom{}\ce{O}\phantom{......}\ce{H}\phantom{...}\ce{OH}\phantom{...}\ce{H}\phantom{}\\
\end{array}\]

Options

• a, b, c, d

• b, c

• a, d

• a, b, c

Answer 1

b, c

Explanation:

Carbon has four valencies. If a carbon atom satisfies all of its four valencies with four different groups then it is termed asymmetric/chiral carbon. In the given compound, b and c carbon are bonded to four different groups, so these are asymmetric.